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Sunday, July 26, 2015

I'm not going to make excuses why I haven't updated this blog (but will say "four boys") and I am not going to catch you up but what I am going to do is share with you the greatest day, the greatest moment since I first saw Matthew's face - today is that day or tonight to be more specific.

There is a lot that goes into this story and I don't want to spend too long introducing it but it's necessary to sort of "frame" the moment. You see, while Michael has no problem showing affection through words or physically since the day we met, Matty has made this Momma wait a very long time for the moment. I know the date of his first hug - and I can now call it a half hug. I know when he first held my had - or now I can call it tolerated my hand in his. Lately he has been a little more "touchy" with me. He has been gently touching my arm or held my hand crossing a parking lot and even put his arm around me in a crowded car. I noticed it and spoke of hugs but special care had to be taken with this broken boy. Sometimes that care comes when you find out just how broken your boys are. Long conversations of the ugliness that occurred in China took place tonight and while God allowed my heart to be broken for my sons he was paving the way for it to be completely put back together whole or "sealed" as my dear friend put it in prayer after I called her to share this beautiful day.

I am going to share the rest of this story in a letter to Matthew but I would like to finish setting the stage. Deep conversations first occurred with Michael and I. Dadda was in and out attending to the other three boys. We put Anthony and Gabriel to bed and I asked Michael if Matthew could join us, he was slightly hesitant as he loves one on one attention but he agreed. Soon Dadda joined us and the conversations revealed some of the ugliness that occurred in these boys short lives (I'm not downplaying that - just highlighting the beauty that came out of these discoveries). When we wrapped it up for the night Matthew was in the room himself and called me in - so now it's just Matthew and I.

Dear Matthew,

"Momma, I don't ever want to go back to China," were the words you said that ripped a hole in my heart.

I said "No, ohhh Matty, you don't ever have to go back" as I scooped all 70 pounds of you up into my arms with your legs wrapped around my body and your arms held my neck. I turned around and sat on the edge of the toy box that your father once used as a child of your age. I sat there with you completely wrapped around my body. My heart ached. For a moment I had no words, only tears - tears of pain, tears of love, tears of joy. I attempted to speak through my tears, not trying to scare you, some words broke. You don't ever have to go back Matthew. You are our son. You are our family. We love you, we love you. Good, bad, sad, happy - you are always ours. You, Michael, Anthony, Gabriel, Momma, and Dadda are family. FAMILY - I looked into your tear filled eyes. I held your face. No one can ever make you go back, no one can ever take you back, no one can ever come and get you. You are safe and loved here. You are a US Citizen - no longer a Chinese one.

You held me and you didn't let go. YOU HELD ME AND DIDN'T LET GO. I can't remember what part of the conversation happened next but I do remember getting to kiss you for the first time ever - over and over. I kissed your checked, you nose, your little ear. I got to tell you things that I've said before but you weren't ready to listen. I got to tell you that you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. We all have brown but your eyes are special - a beautiful hazel. I got to tell you that it took a year to do all of the paperwork to get you home. I got to tell you that I fell in love with your beautiful smile on February 14th 2014 - Valentine's Day - the day of love. I got to touch your lips as I described your smile. I got to give you more kisses (and tell you that you can give me kisses or hugs anytime you want just like Anthony does).

I got to sing "Ohhh God hear us, hear our prayers" in your ear. I got to do the prayer we do every night but missed tonight because of the deep conversations. One thank you Jesus, one prayer for someone else and one prayer asking God to help ourselves. I whispered in your ear "Thank you God for this day, for this hug, for this boy" you nodded your head up and down, "yes" you said. I said "My prayer tonight for someone else: I pray heavenly Father that you heal the broken hearts of Matthew and Michael and that you let them know they are safe with us". You nodded your head and said "Yes". I said "My prayer to ask for my help is to help me be the best mother to all of these wonderful boys" and you nodded and said "yes". "Ohhh God hear us, hear our prayers."

You held me so tight. We were one - WE ARE ONE. I told you how I waited so long for this. I raised both of my arms in victory and Michael ran around and around the room singing and smiling with joy - you just held on. I got to kiss you some more. I got to rub your back beneath your shirt.

I got to be your mom.

I knew I could go through my life loving you without love in return - you were my son after all and I loved you - your didn't grow in my belly but my heart. I grew to know that I could still love you even if you didn't want to love me. The pain of you not being even able to touch me in China when we crossed the busy streets faded. I knew in your time -maybe- you would give me a real hug or a gently touch. I never dreamed that your love could be this incredible, this strong, this beautiful. I knew deep inside something was there but I never knew if it would ever break through. While I never gave up and I prayed for this moment, I was willing to live without it if you wished to.

I got to tell you that you were handsome. You looked at me puzzled and I realized you didn't know what that was. I grabbed my phone which was close by due to the earlier conversation and said handsome into the translator. I showed you and you said shook your head no. I said "yes, very" and then I said "Hi handsome" into the translator and you smiled - I thought you had the most beautiful smile before - now it's more than beautiful. Words can't describe it. Tears continuously filled my eyes.

I looked into your eyes and told you how you will never have to go back to China. You asked about Anthony and Gabriel and I told you they will never go back again. You hugged me more - tight! I know this won't stop you from biting your finger tips or from screaming in the night but I do know that on this greatest day in my life you let me in - you gave me permission to love you like a Momma wants to love her child. I will do whatever I can to never let you down and when I do, we will now - as one - pull each other up - together - Mother and Son.

I love you Matthew.....I love you more than you can know but I will do everything to show you that love - a love you will come to know! For now, for today, this is the greatest day since I saw your face but I know that from this day on - they will get greater and greater because I got to hug you and you hugged me back for almost 30 minutes - and the kisses they were a bonus! I love YOU!

Always,

Your mom - MOMMA.

He was tired, he was wore out and in my arms said he wanted to go to bed. I lifted him up into his top bunk and he said "I want a hug" - ohhh boy can I get used to this. I hugged him and he held on. He may very well be the very best hugger. Then I kissed him goodnight on the cheek - for the first time ever I kissed my son goodnight. And you know what, he kissed me on my check! I don't have to tell you that was a first. I love you Son - I love you Mom. The greatest day in my life since I saw his face.

PS....Eric had run out to get us some treats and when he returned I did my best to tell him the story between my tears. He held me tight and cried with me. He went to say goodnight to them and he came out saying that they both had the biggest smiles on their faces that he had ever seen. My prayer tonight is for the hearts, for the pains, for the fears of m boys to be fully replaced by our love for them. Please pray with me.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Mother's Day was great! GREAT! It was really extra special. For the few days leading up to it, Anthony would say "It's going to be the best day ever!" Is he cute or what?!!!

Eric took the boys out on Saturday to pick something out for me. That was a gift in itself! (Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and husband but a few hours at home by myself - very rejuvenating) They were thrilled when they got home as they were all sneaking things around the house. It was so sweet along with the continuous reminders that it was going to be the best day ever!

The boys let me lay in bed a little extra in the morning and then walked me to the kitchen with my eyes closed to show me all of my gifts. They all wrote in my special card book (instead of picking out overly priced cards, for every occasion, everyone writes or draws in a journal type book for me -it's so sweet). Matty - who keeps his distance and isn't writing in English yet - told Dadda what to write for him. He walked all around describing to Eric what to write including thanking me for teaching him to ride his bike! Everyone followed in Anthony's footsteps by drawing stick figures of everyone in the family. On their shopping spree the day before the boys all had their hands traced on a square canvas and then they each painted them for my gift. It was super sweet. They all had picked out other little gifts from the craft show for me including flowers. Wait until you see the pictures of us planting those flowers!

This picture below is extra special. I found four different candles that came in music boxes. We lit them in honor of each of their birth mothers and then we said a prayer asking God to let their birth mothers know that they are ok....we will do this on holidays and especially Mother's Day. I like how they will be able to play the music box when ever they think of them.

And this is what happens when you ask boys to help you plant flowers - they bring in the heavy equipment!

After church we had a wonderful brunch and then we went for my big surprise of:

The boys were as excited as me!

A month later and they are still talking about it!!!

A magical day! Please pray for all of the Momma's and Dadda's that are always wondering where and how their angels are doing....

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Since a picture is worth a thousands words, I thought I'd share thousands and thousands of words:

Bowling fun!

Play ground monkeys:

Ohhh NO:

Matty as his brother's dentist:

You know there was fun had by all when they are ALL sleeping on the way home:

Too cool:

More playground fun:

First time at church was Easter Sunday:

Having three older brothers to keep up with is exhausting:

Easter egg coloring starts off nice and calm:

And quickly turns into this:

But one boy doesn't have anything on his fingers:

Easter morning:

Successful Easter egg hunt:

Matty loves the animals!

Matty's Birthday:

I love how the three of them were so together on every card and gift!

Worn out again!

House showing so we went on a picnic on the Yankees season opener:

Neighborhood hang out:

Michael's first day of school:

Everyday fun with the side mirror camera while waiting for the bus:

Bird feeder fill up:

Studying hard:

Things are going very well. Thanks for checking in. If I could just plug my brain into the computer when I have thoughts of all that I want to share in a blog then this blog would be packed! This has been an amazing journey to say the least! We are beyond grateful for what God has given us and for all of those involved in helping us bring all of these boys home. Thank you! Please pray for the many children that still don't know the love of a family!

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Please know that although all FOUR BOYS are home, we are still paying off the loans from four adoptions in three years. If you would like to help us, please use the link below and THANK YOU! God Bless!

Words on Adoption

"A child born to another woman calls me mommy. The magnitude of that tragedy & the depth of that privilege are not lost on me." -Jody Landers

I wasn't expected; I was selected! Author: Unknown

”If a mother and father can love more than one child, then certainly a child can love more than one mother or father." Unknown

"I realized at the start that whether a child is biological or adopted, one does not know all the ingredients in the package. That is what growth is all about. A child is the slowest flower in the world, opening petal by petal, revealing the developing personality within." Robert Klose

Religion that God our Father Accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. - An ancient Chinese belief

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. -Oprah Winfrey

Blood, a family does not make, Nor the candles on a birthday cake. Only love from the heart, Causes a family to start. -Ron Gentle, an adoptive parent

Adoption is win a child grew in its mommy's heart instead of her tummy. -Unknown

I have four children. Two are adopted. I forget which two. Bob Constantine

Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, You didn't grow under my heart - but in it. Fleur Conkling Heylinger

The Gift of Life I didn't give you the gift of life, But in my heart I know. The love I feel is deep and real, As if it had been so. For us to have each other Is like a dream come true! No, I didn't give you The gift of life, Life gave me the gift of you. Unknown

How Could You Know? As you lay sleeping far away as still as you could be... How could you know the joy today this photo brings to me? A few short weeks and you'll be mine, and "I" will soon be "We". How could you know the love I feel? It's something you can't see. So have sweet dreams, my precious babe. Sleep well and tenderly. Some say that you're the lucky one. How could you know it's me? Kris Laughlin

The Word of the Lord

I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. John 14:18

"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father is to look after orphans..." James 1:27

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Isaiah 43: 5-6

Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. Mark 9:37

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. Matthew 18:5

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ..... The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'. Matthew 25:35,40

Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24.12

Words to live by:

How could there be TOO MANY children? That is like saying there are TOO MANY flowers. Mother Teresa

“And so let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love...” ― Mother Teresa

I asked God, "How much time do I have before I die?" He replied, "Enough to make a difference". -Unknown

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a Chickadee sang. But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled "God, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not notice. And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle!" And, a life was born. But, the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here!" Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother. -Lin Yutang

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

Do you want to do something beautiful for God? There is a person who needs you. This is your chance. -Mother Teresa

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. -Unknown